The Talmud (Nedarim 22b) teaches that Sefer Yehoshua has a unique quality which sets it apart from all of the other books of the Prophets. Books like Sefer Yeshayahu, Sefer Yirmiyahu, Sefer Melachim and Sefer Shoftim were necessary only to rebuke the people as a response to their behavior. Had they not sinned, they would have needed only the five books of the Torah and Sefer Yehoshua, for it describes the borders and boundaries of Israel. May our study of Sefer Yehoshua increase our love for, and appreciation of, the Land of Israel.

Comment ( 1 )

I had never thought of that. So had the B'nei Yisrael not sinned against Hashem, we would not have had the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah to read and love. Does this not teach us that from sin and disobedience Hashem's response has been to teach us through examples of people's sin rather than just the spoken word.
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I cannot imagine my Bible without these books, without all the teaching and beauty of Hashem's love for his children, yes and his warnings and punishment too.
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Yes, may it do that and more!

Joshua Map

About The Israel Bible

The Israel Bible is the world’s first Tanakh (Bible) centered around the Land of Israel, the People of Israel, and the dynamic relationship between them. Designed for both Jewish and non-Jewish readers alike, The Israel Bible offers a unique commentary that seeks to explain God’s focus on the Land of Israel alongside the original Hebrew text, transliteration of select Hebrew verses, and the New Jewish Publication Society translation.
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